Noosa Heads : Buyers Agent Guide

Noosa Heads is a coastal town at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast, and a highly popular tourist destination during holiday seasons, particularly the warmer months and school holidays.

The suburb is bounded to the west by Weyba Creek and the Noosa River and to the north and east by the Coral Sea. The northeast of the locality is within the Noosa National Park. Noosa Heads, Noosaville and Tewantin form a continuous urban area at the northern end of the Sunshine Coast.

If you’re looking to relocate or purchase a Noosa Heads home or investment property, you need local knowledge about key suburbs and areas to make the most informed decision that best suits your needs. Whether you are interested in Noosa Heads apartments for sale, Noosa Heads houses for sale, or Noosa Heads units for sale, this guide provides a comprehensive overview.

Key Noosa Heads areas and neighbourhoods

Whether you are interested in buying a Noosa Heads apartment or unit, or buying a Noosa Heads house, it’s important to know the difference between the different areas within Noosa Heads, as well as the difference between Noosa and Noosa Heads.

Noosa Heads consists of several key areas, each with unique characteristics:

Noosa Sound: Known for its prestige waterfront properties which attract premium prices
Noosa Hill: between Noosa Junction and Noosa National Park, also reasonably close to Hastings Street
Noosa Junction: an increasingly popular shopping, cafe and restaurant precinct
Cooloola Estate: A quiet, undulating elevated area behind Noosa Junction
Noosa Springs / Park Ridge: An area surrounded by bushland, with a renowned golf course resort and residences.
Elysium: A modern residential estate and family friendly neighbourhood with strong community feel
Weyba Park: close to the AFL Football Grounds and Lake Weyba
Little Cove: An exclusive, leafy area walking between Hastings Street and Noosa National Park and attracts premium prices

Each of these residential neighbourhoods within Noosa Heads have their own unique characteristics, demographics and benefits / disadvantages. So when looking to buy your Noosa Heads investment property or own home, it is worthwhile to find out from a local first about the specific neighbourhood you’re looking at and what it’s like living in Noosa Heads, before you buy.

Shopping in Noosa Heads

Noosa Heads contains a number of key shopping precincts, notably:

Hastings Street adjacent to Main Beach (boutique and high street apparel labels)
Noosa Junction (Coles, IGA, K Hub, boutique shops and cafes / restaurants, etc)
Noosa Civic (Big W, Woolworths, Cotton On, etc)

Adjacent suburbs to Noosa Heads include Noosaville, Sunshine Beach and Tewantin offer additional shopping options.

In addition, the Noosa Farmers’ Market takes place every Sunday at the AFL Football fields in Noosaville.

Getting around Noosa Heads

In terms of public transport options, bus services are the main public transport available to get around Noosa Heads. Visit Translink’s website to see what services are available.

If you’re a cyclist or walker, there are also a range of dedicated bicycle and walking paths (as well as on-road bike lanes) around Noosa Heads.

Noosa Heads is unique in that it has no traffic lights, so if you’re getting around by car you will quickly become accustomed to the many (many!) roundabouts in our beautiful neighbourhood.

It is approximately:

135 km to Brisbane (1 hr, 45 minute drive)
45 km to Maroochydore (40 minute drive)
40 km to Sunshine Coast Airport (35-40 minute drive)

Noosa Heads climate

As with the rest of the Sunshine Coast area, Noosa is renowned for its mild climate and amazing weather almost all year round. It has an average annual temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. In winter, the temperature can drop to 10 degrees Celsius overnight but generally the daytimes are still warm.

Ocean water temperature ranges from 19 degrees in winter to 25 degrees in summer. With this sort of climate, it’s no wonder it’s a very popular place for people wanting to visit or live.

Noosa Heads property market

The Noosa Heads property market is highly sought after, particularly properties in Noosa Sound or Little Cove (where premium prices are achieved, including $25 million+ properties).

There are large variations between different precincts within this suburb. The Noosa zoning map restricts high-rise buildings, maintain Noosa Heads’ unique feel. This limited supply and high demand contribute to the area’s premium property prices.

Is Noosa Heads a good investment?

Here are some statistics on the median Noosa Heads house price, rental yield in Noosa Heads, and long term average annual growth in Noosa Heads for houses.

Why is Noosa expensive?

The Noosa zoning map restricts high-rise buildings, maintaining Noosa Heads’ village feel. This limited supply and high demand contribute to the area’s premium property prices.

Buying a Noosa Heads property to short term let

If you’re buying an investment property in Noosa Heads to Airbnb, you need to be aware of Noosa Council’s Short Term Accommodation rules.

In February 2021, Noosa Council passed a new Local Law for Short Term Accommodation (STA) which affects investors who intend to Airbnb their property. The Council requires short stay and home hosted accommodation property owners to lodge an application for using residential properties for AIRBNB or short term rentals unless identified as exempt.

To determine if you can operate, or continue to operate short stay letting from the property you are planning to purchase you first need to determine in what town planning zone your property is located in. Further information is contained in the following links:

https://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/short-stay-letting

Noosa Local Law

Noosa Heads schools and education

Noosa Heads’ nearby suburbs offer a variety of public and private schools, making it an ideal location for families and school aged children.

Noosa Heads public schools:

Sunshine Beach State School
Sunshine Beach High School
Noosa Heads private schools:
Good Shepherd Lutheran College
St Thomas More Catholic Primary School
St Teresa’s Catholic College

There are also other public and private schools in suburbs such as Tewantin, Cooroy, Peregian Springs, Buderim, etc. If you plan to relocate or buy property in Noosa Heads, be aware of the travel times to and from these areas. For example:

Noosa Heads to Peregian Springs is 15 km which takes approximately 20-25 minutes each way on the busy Sunshine Motorway (100km per hour speed limit) / David Low Way (70km per hour speed limit)
Noosa Heads to Cooroy is 22 km which takes around 25-30 minutes each way via the Cooroy Noosa Road (80km per hour speed limit)
Noosa Heads to Eumundi is 20 km which takes around 20 – 25 minutes each way via Eumundi Noosa Road (80km per hour speed limit)
Noosa Heads to Buderim is 40 km which takes around 45-50 minutes each way via Sunshine Motorway

While these travel times don’t seem huge at the outset, locals living in Noosa Heads who do that commute back and forth twice per day along those busy roads to get their children to and from school (as well as after school activities, etc) do comment that it can become too time consuming and unsustainable.

Noosa Heads community and activities

Noosa Heads’ population comprises (ABS, 2021):

5,120 people
Median age 54
Families 70.4%, other households 29.6%
Properties owned outright 49%, owned with a mortgage 23.6%, rented 24.2%

Noosa Heads has around 300 community groups catering to various interests, from sports and recreation to arts and hobbies, ensuring there’s something for everyone. The area is close to to community centres such as:

Noosa Aquatic Centre
Giraween
Noosa Leisure Centre
Noosa Main Beach and Surf Lifesaving Club
Noosaville Library

Noosa vs. Noosa Heads

Visitors often ask what the difference is between Noosa and Noosa Heads, but funnily enough there isn’t an actual town called just “Noosa”. Noosa Heads is usually the sport people refer to when they say Nosa. Noosaville, the adjacent suburb to Noosa Heads, is usually included in the broad Noosa area. While Noosa Heads is known for its bustling tourism and restaurant scene, Noosaville offers a more laid-back lifestyle with extensive residential areas and family friendly amenities.

Is Noosa Heads a good place to live?

Absolutely! Noosa Heads is a fantastic place to call home. Known for its stunning beaches, vibrant local culture, and abundant natural beauty, Noosa offers a high quality of life. With excellent schools, diverse dining options, and a strong sense of community, it’s perfect for families, retirees, and young professionals alike. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the surfing, hiking, and national parks. If you’re seeking a relaxed yet active lifestyle, Noosa Heads is the ideal choice. Here’s what others have to say about living in Noosa Heads.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to buy a home or investment property in Noosa Heads, whether it’s a Noosa Heads apartment for sale or a house, it’s beneficial to consult with local experts. For more information about living in Noosa Heads or assistance in purchasing property, get in touch with Home Scouts, your trusted Noosa Heads Buyers Agent.